Premiere of Verdi's Aida in Cairo

Background. Aida was commissioned by the Egyptian government for the Khedivial Opera House, built to celebrate the Suez Canal's opening. Verdi accepted a substantial fee despite his lack of admiration for Ancient Egyptian civilization. The premiere was postponed because scenery and costumes were trapped in Paris during the Siege of Paris, leading to a delay until late 1871.

Premiere. The opera received its world premiere at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on 24 December 1871. Giovanni Bottesini conducted the performance, which met with great acclaim. Although the house had opened in 1869 with Rigoletto, Aida's specific debut was delayed by the Franco-Prussian War, preventing the intended early celebration.

Aftermath. Verdi considered the subsequent European premiere at La Scala in February 1872 to be the real debut, as he was heavily involved in that production. He spent much of 1872 and 1873 supervising Italian productions in Milan, Parma, and Naples, demanding high standards and adequate rehearsal time for the cast.